In the early morning hours, he was working on the roof of the barn, and during the evenings, he was watching how Trudy did things in the arena. He’d wanted to dive in, but she thought it was best that he observed first. It had been a good call. The first week, the full moon had hit with full force, and the entire week was spent with kids having meltdowns.
Trudy was amazing, though. She handled everything calmly. Nothing seemed to phase her, and she’d earned his respect quickly. He liked her, and he could see why she was a staple at Sunshine. She was assertive and firm, but she was also kind and yielding. It was such a balanced mix, and he was in awe at how she was able to adapt to any situation thrown her way.
Freddy had also been absent with the flu, which made the days slower. He’d missed that spunky little girl. She made him laugh and kept him on his toes. What he’d learned about her was that she was exactly what she’d said: precocious and outspoken. His affection for her hadn’t waned at all. If she didn’t come back soon, he’d ask Sarah if they could go visit her at home.
The coming sunset caught his attention as he kneeled on the roof. It was stunning. He loved how the sky would change colors like a kaleidoscope as the sun made it decent. It was like the bow at the end of a show.
“Wow, I can’t believe you’re almost done,” Sarah called up to him, her hand across her brow to block the sun .
He smiled and surveyed his work. “It needed to be done. This roof was on its last leg. I’m surprised it kept the barn dry the last time it rained.”
“Are you hungry?”
Now that she mentioned it, his stomach growled. He’d zipped right past lunch without realizing it. “Starved.”
“Well, come on. I fixed dinner.”
She fixed dinner? They’d basically been strangers passing lately. He had a sneaking suspicion she was actively avoiding him. Didn’t mean she was ever far from his mind. In that respect, she’d been like glue. When he did see her, it only made him want to spend more time with her, but she’d always give an excuse and run. The anticipation of spending an entire evening with her made his heart race.
He quickly picked up the tools and hurried down the ladder. Whatever she fixed would be good by him .
He kept pace next to her as they went to the house, and before she could even open the door, his mouth began to water. “Whatever that is, I may just inhale it.”
“Smells good, huh?”
“Mouthwaterin’. What is it?” He held the door as they entered the house .
“My mom’s lasagna recipe. I’ve been working on it all day. This is the first time I’ve made it, so I hope I didn’t mess it up.”
“It doesna smell messed up. Do I have time for a shower?” Sitting through dinner smelling like sweat didn’t sound enjoyable.
Her smile reached her eyes. “I’d appreciate it if you did. Not that I don’t enjoy reaping the benefits of hard work, but aroma is a different story.”
* * *
“That smells fantastic,” Taran said as he entered the kitchen after his shower. Sarah was pulling garlic bread out of the oven, and it only intensified his hunger.
She turned and smiled. “Let’s just hope it tastes as good.”
Taran helped her finish setting the table, and she dished out the meal. He greedily gobbled his first helping before coming up for air and helping himself to seconds. “I didnae realize how hungry I was.”
“Thank you for fixing the roof.” She’d taken a few bites, but mostly she’d pushed her food around with her fork.
Taran studied her a moment. “Are ye okay?”
“I am. I just need a break.” She smiled weakly at him. “I’m trying to understand the financial aspects of this place, and it’s taking a lot of effort.”
“What’s the problem?”
“It’s not something I tell many people. “
He held up his hand. “Then dinnae say.”
“No, if I’m going to tell anyone, it’ll be you. We’re married, after all.” She winked.
She had a way of making him laugh. “That’s true.”
Sarah set her fork down. “When I was born, I was a micro-preemie. I had a pretty severe brain bleed, and it affected my memory.”
Taran took a sip of his drink. “A micro-preemie?” He’d heard of preemies, and they were tiny. How much tinier had she been?
“I was twenty-two weeks and a few days when I was born. I was under two pounds. They consider that micro because they’re so tiny.”
Twenty-two weeks? It was a miracle she was alive. “Wow. I had nae idea. What kind of memory problems do ye have?”
“Names, people, and places I’m okay with, but numbers and stuff are almost impossible. Sometimes they reverse on me, and I have to really be careful.”
“Ye ran a business with Paige.”
She sighed like she’d explained it too many times. “Yes, but she took care of the finance stuff. I mostly did the bookings and website articles.”
“Then let Trudy take care of it. There’s no point in drivin’ yerself crazy if it’s too hard.” He bit off a hunk of garlic bread, and it melted in his mouth. “What ye lack in numbers, ye make up for in cookin’.”
“That’s kinda why I was afraid. Like I said, numbers aren’t my thing.” She picked up her fork and began eating again. “And I don’t want to depend on Trudy. What if something happens and she’s no longer around? What then? I have to be able to do it. We’re taking the weekend off and regrouping. I think she’s as frustrated as I am.”
“I don’t understand much, but I understand frustration.”
“I think it’s why my dad left. I was difficult as a kid. I had ADHD and ADD, which most preemies have because of brain development. It made parenting a little more interesting. They would tell me not to do something, and I’d almost immediately forget.” She took a bite and washed it down with her drink.
Taran couldn’t understand a parent leaving just because things were difficult. “I dinnae think ye had anythin’ to do with it.”
She shrugged. “Maybe.”
“What makes ye think ye did?”
“I overheard him arguing with my mom right before he left. He said he couldn’t take it anymore, the constant battle of me forgetting. A few days later, he left.”
Taran reached across the table and covered her hand with his. “It’s his loss. Ye are bright, beautiful, and kindhearted. There are worse things than being forgetful.”
“I know that now, but at the time, I didn’t. I worked hard to improve my memory after that. It was painstakingly slow, but I did get better.”
He could picture a small, determined Sarah working hard until she had accomplished her goal. “Did ye ever see yer dad again?”
She nodded and looked down. “When I turned twenty, I decided to go find him. He’d built himself a new life, and he made it abundantly clear I wasn’t welcome. He’d left me and my mom behind, and he was trying to keep the past in the past.”
Taran sat back, shocked. How could anyone do that to their family? “Did ye ever tell yer mom?”
“No, I never told my mom I went looking for him. It would have broken her heart to hear that.”
Her eyes held a level of sadness he’d never seen before. Even her mother’s death hadn’t brought out that level of hurt. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and tell her what a fool her dad had been. “I’m so sorry.”
A tiny strained laugh popped out. “Don’t be. He did me and my mom a favor. If he’d stayed, he’d only have made us miserable. When he left, it took a while, but my mom was a lot happier after. I got better and grew out of most of my preemie issues.”
“I had no idea ye had any type of memory problems, so ye must have conquered it. Ye’ll get the finances too.” He knew she could do anything she put her mind to. She was the most determined woman he’d ever met.
The smile she gave him went all the way to her eyes. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Always. This dinner was beyond delici
ous. I think we may need a repeat in the near future. And I’m cleanin’ up, okay?” Suddenly, he realized how much he’d missed her .
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at him. “How about we both clean up?”
“Naw, ye cooked. It’s only fair that I clean up.” That had been the rule in his home since he was tiny.
“You left your family and farm for me. Then I shanghaied you into marrying me, and you’ve been working nonstop since you got here. I think fixing you dinner was a pittance as a repayment.”
Shanghaied? Is that why she’d been so scarce the last two weeks? “Is that why ye’ve been avoidin’ me? Because ye think ye roped me into this?” That’s not how he felt.
Sarah ducked her head and looked away. “I haven’t been avoiding you. We were both busy, and time got away.” Her words said one thing, but she wouldn’t look in him in the eyes.
At no time had he done anything against his will. She had no reason to feel guilty .
Taran took her hand and pulled her up as he stood. He tugged her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. “I’m here because I want to be, and I wasnae suckered into this. I care about ye.”
She leaned back. “I feel guilty. If Gavin hadn’t said anything, you’d be back in Scotland.”
If he’d never found out, it was possible she’d be married to some other man. It made his dinner want to make a reappearance. He was glad he found out before he left. “And what would ye have done?”
“I don’t know, but I’d have figured something out.”
Taran rubbed his thumb across her cheek. Another thing he’d missed was having her in his arms. “Ye have no reason to feel guilty. It was for selfish reasons I asked ye to marry me.”
“What?” The word came out as a tiny gasp.
“The idea of ye marryin’ someone else didnae sit well with me.” That was the truth. On impulse, he’d asked her, but at the base of it was his desperation to keep someone else from stepping into the picture.
As she held his gaze, the temptation to kiss her grew, but he also knew he’d be pushing it. She felt guilty, like she’d orchestrated the whole thing, but he’d been a willing participant. What she needed at the moment was comfort, not kissing.
Just as the silence hit the breaking point, Sarah took his face in her hands and pressed her lips to his cheek, lingering a second before locking eyes with him again. “You’re such a sweet man. Thank you for…everything. It’s selfish, but I’m glad you found out too.” Her eyes grew glassy with the last sentence, and before he could respond, she bolted from the room.
Were those tears in her eyes? For a second, he thought it might be because of him, but it was more likely the stress and strain of running the sanctuary was getting to her. Losing her mum, struggling with the finances, and then being forced to get married.
Add to that what she’d just shared, and it was enough to drain anyone. Taran couldn’t understand a man leaving his family because things were difficult, especially where a child was involved. He sure couldn’t picture a second where he’d even consider that as an option. A man was supposed to fight for his children, not leave them wounded.
He covered the spot where she’d kissed his cheek with his hand. Part of him wanted to go after her, soothe her hurts, but he quickly decided against it. Most likely, she was exhausted and needed to rest .
Besides, running after her might add to the confusion already settling around him. Sarah was right. It was better to let her go in order to keep a distinct line drawn. The last thing he wanted or needed was to go home brokenhearted.
Chapter 17
Following their near kiss, Sarah actively avoided Taran again. He’d been right. She’d tried everything she could to keep their interactions as limited as possible. They had five and a half more months together, and after their first kiss, all she could think about was the second one.
Her resolve lasted all of a day before her willpower crumbled. Having dinner with him reminded her why she enjoyed his company. He’d come from the shower with mussed wet hair in sweats and a t-shirt, and she had never seen anyone or anything better looking. Her heart had cartwheeled, and she had to root her feet in place to keep from flinging herself at him and begging him to kiss her again.
Today, she was going to make him take a break. He’d been working on the barn nonstop in the end-of-June heat. What most people didn’t know was that the estate had a small lake two miles away. They could take a couple of horses and be there in no time. Plus, she knew how much he loved riding .
All she had to do was give Trudy a heads-up. “I thought I’d find you in here.”
Trudy looked up from the small desk tucked away off to the side in the rehabilitation arena. Her mom had done that on purpose. If someone didn’t know where it was, it was a good place to hide for a while and get your thoughts together .
“Did you hear if Freddy would be back soon?” Trudy asked.
“Yeah, her dad called and said she’d be back tomorrow.” Sarah leaned her shoulder against the doorframe and toed the floor.
“Good. I’m missing the little squirt.” Trudy chuckled and stuffed a file in the cabinet drawer to the side of the desk. “I thought you were taking a long break from the finances.”
Sarah had determined she needed more time than just the weekend before she delved back into it. Maybe a longer break would help her. “I am. I came to let you know I’m taking Taran to the lake. He’d been working so hard, and I think he needs some time off.”
Trudy lifted an eyebrow, and her lips quirked into a smile. “The lake? That’s romantic.”
“No, it’s not like that. We’re just friends.” If Sarah could manage it, Trudy would never know about the clause or being married to Taran.
“That man loves you.”
Sarah waved her off. “What? No. He cares about me, but trust me, that’s all it is.”
The older woman eyed her. “I think both of you are in denial.”
“And I think you like to butt in where you shouldn’t.” Sarah straightened. “I probably won’t see you before you leave. Don’t worry about the horses. I’ll put them up when we get back.”
“Okay, sweetheart. But I still think I’m right.”
“Bye, Trudy.” Sarah spun on her heels and left. She didn’t get far before she spotted Taran hammering away. He’d finished the roof the day before and had started replacing some of the rotten wood on the sides of the barn .
He smiled as she approached and wiped his hand across his forehead. “Hey, I was beginnin’ to think ye were avoidin’ me again.”
His face was tinted pink, and she wondered if he’d forgotten sunscreen. “No, I was never avoiding you.” Liar, her heart screamed. “But I am here for a reason.”
“What’s that?”
She took the hammer from his hand and set it down. “We’ll get to that later, but for now, I’m kidnapping you.”
He squinted at her. “Kidnappin’ me?”
A giggle popped out before she could stop it. “Yes, I’m kidnapping you. Have you got any swim trunks?”
“Aye, Angus said I needed to pack them since I was comin’ to Florida. Why?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Go get them. I’ll be ready by the time you get back. And don’t worry about lunch. I’ve got that too.”
“I’ll be back in a second,” he said as he took off in a jog.
By the time he returned, Sarah had the horses saddled. Butterflies tickled her stomach as she caught sight of him strolling toward her with his trunks slung over his shoulder. “Hey, that was fast.”
“Aye, I’ve never been kidnapped before. Didnae want to keep my captor waitin’.” His smile was flirty, and his eyes sparkled in the sunlight. He was a beautiful man inside and out.
Her knees wobbled a little. “Good. Now, let’s go.”
They mounted their horses and rode off toward the lake. Halfway there, doubt began to creep into Sarah. She was taking him somewhere private. It wouldn’t take a lot to read into it. Before
that happened, she needed him to know why she’d made him stop working.
“Okay, so ye cannae tell me where we’re goin’, but can ye tell me how long it’ll be before we get there?” Taran asked as his horse trotted next to hers.
“Maybe another mile. I just thought you needed a break, and I knew you wouldn’t unless someone made you. I figured a day off would be a good way to refresh.”
“Ye thought I needed a day off?” The way he said it made it sound as if he didn’t fully believe that was the only reason.
She nodded and smiled as she glanced at him. “Absolutely. You’ve been working so hard, and after dinner the other night, I realized that you’d never willingly take a break when you knew things needed to be done. So, I thought this was the best way.”
“And that’s all?”
“Yep.” She tapped the horse’s sides with her heels. “Race you the rest of the way.” It was the only way she could see to get out of the conversation. She cared about him, but that’s where it had to end. No matter what Trudy thought, she couldn’t entertain anything that would take her down that road. Her heart was off-limits.
Sarah slowed her horse as the lake came into view, and Taran pulled on the reins to match her horse’s pace. “That was fun, and I told you it wasn’t too far.”
“Ye cheated,” he said.
“You say cheated; I say slight head start.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “That’s cheatin’.”
She waved her hand toward the lake. “Doesn’t this make up for it?”
“It has the potential. Are we goin’ to eat lunch first?” He touched his stomach. “The coffee and muffin from this mornin’ are long gone.”
“Sure.” She stopped her horse once they were at the water’s edge and let it drink freely. “You can let the reins go. These two won’t go anywhere.”
Mending The Billionaire Brother (MacLachlan Brothers Romance Book 3) Page 10
